Fadnavis, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray share stage at book launch in Dadar

A scene in Maharashtra politics on Thursday is being discussed well beyond the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray appeared on the same stage. With the three leaders sharing a platform after many years, a flurry of camera clicks was certain. Photographs of the three spread quickly across the national media, and the picture is being talked about in the media and on social media.

The image drew added attention because the Shinde Sena and the BJP had spent the whole day trading charges over the defeat in the Legislative Council election. In the evening, the two Thackerays and Fadnavis were seen together.

The occasion was the release of Prashant Kulkarni's book 'Hasyarekha'. The three leaders gathered for the event at the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Sabhagriha in Dadar. All eyes were on the programme. Maharashtra was watching what leaders who have attacked one another would say on one stage, who would take a dig at whom and who would raise a laugh.

It was also the first time the three leaders came on one stage since the reconciliation between the two Thackeray brothers. The two brothers have also raised their voices over the agitation against the Chief Election Commissioner, support for MPSC students, the agitation against Dharmendra Pradhan and the felling of trees in Karjat, and have criticised the Fadnavis government on these issues. With charges flying between the Shinde Sena and the BJP since morning, the three leaders' appearance together intensified the speculation. The three leaders also held talks behind closed doors before the event, which added to the buzz.

Fadnavis took up the fact of the three being together for the first time and made several jibes. He said, "I do not know why some people got a stomach ache on seeing the three of us together. But we are not surprised at coming on one stage. It is Maharashtra's tradition. Leaders of different parties and different ideologies keep coming on one stage. We can joke together. We can have tea together."

Fadnavis also took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray. He said, "Until 2019, whenever Uddhavji called me, I went. After 2019, he did not phone. I was waiting."

Raj Thackeray also explained why they had come together. He said, "Some people must be wondering how the three of us came onto one stage. But there are some platforms where everyone comes together. People set politics aside and come together. At such events the talk is of art and culture rather than politics. It is natural for people of different ideologies to come together on such a platform."